Dear Sir,

In 2019, I produced a documentary called Bermuda We Have A Problem to highlight bad driving habits on Bermuda's roads. That video presented examples of speeding, running red lights, mobile phone use while driving, etc. It went on to win several international film festival awards.

I look back on that video as the “good old days”. Safe driving is in steep decline on this island and getting worse daily. The original video was filmed over five months. Today, I could easily gather the same amount of footage in six weeks. Where I used to see a driver using a mobile phone once a week, I now see up to six incidents a day.

The worse example I’ve seen is an LPG truck with the driver, head down and texting, rolling through a stop sign at a major intersection. What could possibly go wrong in that scenario?

Since the video came out, drivers have begun stopping in the middle of the road to wave people into traffic from stop signs, crossroads and driveways. While this sounds minor, the knock-on effect is that drivers are now habitually nosing into traffic expecting to be let in. It isn't uncommon to have a third to half of your lane blocked by such drivers. If you follow the law and presume you have right-of-way, you can be seriously injured or killed when someone else waves traffic across your path. This dangerous practice is even happening in roundabouts!

Today, traffic law is flouted to such an extent that actually following the law is hazardous. My halting at a stop sign usually results in panic-brake squeals from behind as other drivers realise I’m not just going to roll through like everyone else.

Broken windows theory describes visible signs of disorder and neglect in an environment, such as broken windows, graffiti and litter, which encourage further disorder and more serious crimes.

When drivers observe others violating traffic laws without punishment, this creates a sense of “normality” around these behaviours. This leads to worse driving and people using the roads as their personal racetrack. Modified scooters are becoming more prevalent, with thunderous mufflers and tuned-up engines exceeding 150cc power limitations. Stand on any street corner in Hamilton and you will hear them within minutes. When people realise the police are ignoring the “little crimes”, expect burglaries, thefts, knife crime, drug use and worse to increase.

The Government and police have utterly failed to discourage law breakers on the road. To be fair, whenever the police do set up a speed trap, everyone starts flashing their lights. Then, hypocritically, when there is a crash, the light flashers are the first to moan and complain. Vehicle stops by police have resulted in guns and drugs being seized. You would think that the added value of stopping people for speeding would be obvious.

We were told surveillance cameras were the solution. We have spent untold millions of taxpayer money on new street cameras with the issues continuing unabated. Only strict boots-on-the-ground policing will solve this. People slow down and act properly when a police cruiser is in the area, so why don’t we have unmarked vehicles/bikes to catch offenders?

If legislation is the barrier, the Government, with its vast majority, could push through amended traffic laws in weeks. No one in the Bermuda Police Service or Government can claim ignorance, as they see the same behaviour we do when on the roads. Yet, no relevant legislation has been actioned for a decade, at least.

My suspicion is that nothing will be done until a VIP tourist, close relative of a Cabinet minister or senior civil servant is killed. Then we will get the “This has gone on for too long ...” speech before something of substance is finally done.

How many “unimportant” people have to die or be injured before that happens? The only people I don't need to convince have already lost someone.

Bermuda, we still have a problem.

SIMON PARKINSON

Smith’s